On March 20, 2026, the Faculty of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), successfully organized the scientific workshop on “Energy and Nuclear Power in Vietnam.” The event brought together a large number of scientists, experts, policymakers, and industry representatives from both domestic and international institutions. The workshop served as a significant academic forum for knowledge exchange, updating emerging technological trends, and strengthening collaboration in the field of nuclear energy - one of the strategic pillars for ensuring national energy security and sustainable development.
With more than 60 years of establishment and development, the Department of Nuclear Physics under the Faculty of Physics and Engineering Physics has continuously affirmed its pioneering role in education and research in nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, and medical physics. In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Minh Triet - Vice President, emphasized the crucial role of higher education institutions in preparing high-quality human resources for the nuclear energy sector, particularly as Vietnam is gradually reviving its nuclear power development agenda. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration among universities, regulatory bodies, research institutes, enterprises, and international partners to build a solid scientific, technological, and human resource foundation for the future.
The workshop program featured a series of in-depth scientific presentations delivered by distinguished speakers from Vietnam and abroad, addressing a comprehensive range of topics from strategic orientations and international experiences to fundamental research and practical applications in medicine and industry.
The program commenced with a keynote presentation by Dr. Tran Bich Ngoc, Vice Director General of the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS), who outlined Vietnam’s strategic direction for atomic energy as a driver of sustainable socio-economic development. The presentation highlighted the growing electricity demand and the country’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, underscoring the urgent need to diversify the energy mix and reaffirm the role of nuclear power in the national energy security strategy.
Following this, Mr. Takeshi Makigami, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Representative of Japan Nuclear Energy Development Co., Ltd. (JINED) in Vietnam, presented insights into the experience and future prospects of Japan’s nuclear power sector. His presentation provided valuable practical perspectives from a country with a long-standing history of nuclear energy development. It also offered an in-depth analysis of lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011, subsequent changes in safety management approaches, and the development roadmap for next-generation reactor technologies, including advanced light water reactors and small modular reactors. His contribution delivered important international insights relevant to Vietnam’s nuclear power planning and implementation.
From the perspective of domestic research and capacity building, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Tuan Khai, Vice President of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM), presented strategies for strengthening VINATOM’s capabilities to support nuclear power plant projects in Vietnam. His talk focused on key areas such as reactor neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, safety analysis, advanced fuel design, and research on small modular reactors. The presentation also emphasized the role of existing research infrastructure and the planned development of the Center for Nuclear Science and Technology.
Addressing the critical issue of human resources, Mr. Le Van Dinh, Deputy HR Manager of the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project Management Board (EVN), discussed the current status and proposed solutions for workforce development for the Ninh Thuan 1 project. The presentation identified a significant gap in experienced nuclear professionals following a prolonged interruption of the nuclear power program and proposed a dual approach combining retraining of existing personnel with the development of a new generation of engineers through both domestic and international training programs.
Continuing this theme, Dr. Nguyen Kien Cuong, Vice Director of the Dalat Nuclear Research Institute (NRI) under VINATOM, highlighted the essential role of research reactors in Vietnam’s nuclear power development era. Drawing on more than 40 years of operation of the Dalat Nuclear Research Reactor, the presentation demonstrated the importance of research infrastructure in radioisotope production, neutron activation analysis, hands-on training, and the development of high-quality human resources.
In the subsequent sessions, the workshop expanded into advanced research areas and modern applications in nuclear engineering and medical physics.
Assoc. Prof. Han-Young Yoon from KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS), South Korea, presented new perspectives on nuclear thermal-hydraulic analysis, emphasizing the role of high-performance computing, GPU acceleration, and multi-physics simulation models in improving the accuracy of reactor safety assessments.
Dr. Marie-Christine Lépy, Research Director at CEA and Head of the Photon Spectrometry Group at the Laboratoire National Henri Becquerel (LNHB), France, introduced methodologies for radionuclide decay data measurement and evaluation. Her presentation highlighted the importance of high-precision nuclear data for applications in medicine, instrumentation calibration, and applied research.
In the field of medical physics, Dr. Martin Grossmann, Senior Technical Advisor at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland, presented recent advancements in proton therapy. His talk emphasized the superior advantages of this technology in cancer treatment, particularly its ability to deliver highly precise radiation doses to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Subsequently, MSc. Phan Quoc Uy, Head of the Radiation Technology Department at Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital and Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Medical Physics, provided an overview of the organization’s activities and the role of medical physicists in modern healthcare systems. His presentation offered practical insights into the need for professional standardization, workforce development, and the advancement of medical physics in Vietnam.
From a technological application perspective, Mr. Hoang Vuong Ngoc Thien, Engineer at Toan Dien Medical Technology Company Limited, introduced RayStation as an advanced treatment planning system integrating artificial intelligence and multi-criteria optimization to enhance efficiency and precision in radiotherapy.
In addition, Mr. Le Van Nghi, Chairman and CEO of Q.I.S Non-Destructive Testing Services, presented on quality inspection services and nuclear technology applications in industry. His talk demonstrated the significant potential of non-destructive testing techniques across key industrial sectors while emphasizing the role of industry in bridging academic training and practical applications.
Concluding the workshop, Dr. Cao Van Chung, Vice Director of the Research and Development Center for Radiation Technology (VINAGAMMA), presented on electron beam (E-beam) technology applications and the roadmap for domestic accelerator development in Vietnam. His presentation outlined future prospects for mastering advanced radiation technologies to serve healthcare, industry, and food processing sectors.
Overall, the workshop provided a comprehensive overview of the current status, potential, and future prospects of nuclear energy and nuclear technology in Vietnam. The participation of leading domestic and international experts significantly enhanced the academic quality of the program and opened up new opportunities for collaboration in education, research, and technology transfer. The event further reaffirmed the role of the Faculty of Physics and Engineering Physics in connecting knowledge, advancing academic excellence, and contributing meaningfully to the development of the nuclear field in Vietnam.
